Screw driver



Oct, 27, 1931. w. c. RoE

SCREW DRIVER Filed oct. 2. 1929 "....l l l l 15.7. P'I'S- 3 M N .man3

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Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNTED STATES PATENT WILLIAM ROE, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T TELKOR, INC., OF ELYRIA, OHIO, A COREORATION OF OHIO SCREW DRIVER Application led October 2, 1929. Serial No. 386,688.

My invention relates to improvements in screw drivers and relates more particularly to a screw driver of the so-called ratchet type.

An object of my invention is to provide -a ratchet screw driver'wherein the ratchet mechanism is entirely enclosed in a housing.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide an improved ratchet screw driver which may be adjusted to drive screws clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Another object of my invention is to provide a screw driver wherein theratchet mechanism may be readily reversed without operating extraneous levers or pawls.

Another object of my invention is to provide a screw driver wherein the ratchet mechanism may be reversed by pulling out on the bit and turninO in one half a turn in either direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ratchet screw driver wherein the ratchet mechanism is simple and compact, having few working parts.

@ther objects of my invention and the invention. itself will become apparent from the following' description of an embodiment of my invention in which description reference will be had to the accompanying` drawings forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of my invention; p

Fie. 2 is a vertical medial sectional view of my invention, certain parts being shown in fragmentary elevation.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are end, side elevational and perspective views of ratchet ends of the handle.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are top plan, side, bottom plan and vertical medial sectional views of a. floatin 0 clutch used in my invention.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary elevational views of the ratchet clutch control rotated through 90o relative to each other.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference characters, my screw driver comprises generally a handle l, ratchet housing 2 and loit 3.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2, a central bore bore 10 of the sleeve. The housing 2 is telescoped over the annular end 7 and is secured thereto by a screw 11 which is passed through a countersunk hole in the housing into the threaded end 7.

The housing` is provided with an enlarged bore 15 adjacent the upper end, adaptedl to house the floatingy clutch or .flog 16, and a lower smaller bore 17 into which a control element 18, which is secured to the shaft of the bit, is adapted to telescope.

The floating clutch element comprises a relatively short cylinder havinglr a. tapered central bore 19. The lower end surface-20 is provided with transverse notches 21 and 21', and the opposite upper end 22 is provided with two ratchet teeth 23 and 24, which face in opposite directions. Between the ratchet teeth 23 and 24 are provided two elevated rocking edges 40-40 for a purpose to be described.

The periphery of the cylinder is provided with two grooves 26 and 27 parallel to the faces of the teeth which support a resilient steel clip 28, so as to provide a pair of loops 29 and 30.

The bit 3 is adapted to telescope into the handle through the clutch element and sleeve, and is provided with a clutch adjusting` control 18. which is `generally cylindrical in the lower portion 31 and is provided with an annular flange 32 adjacent the upper end, which supports an upwardly extending' boss 33 having a slantinp; upper surface 311 adapted to he lodged in one of the notches 21 or 21.

The cylindrical portion extends through the apertured end 35 of the housing. A helical compression spring` 36 is disposed around the cylindrical portion one end thereof abutting against the end wall of the housing and the other end exerting pressure on the flange 32 to resiliently force the bit upward intov the housing.

The effect ot the pressure of the spring Y on the bit, when the boss 33 on the flange 32 is disposed in the notch 21, is to cause the clutch element tobe tilted. This is made possible by the tapered bore, and the fact that the tooth 23 (or 24) can be displaced axially in one ofthe intervening spaces between the lugsV 9. The tilting'of the clutch element is rendered positive by having ythe rocking edges 40-40 positioned between the notches 21 and 21', whereby when the boss 33 presses v upwardly in' one or the other of the notches 21 or 21', one of the rocking edges 40-40 will abut upon one oi therlugs 9 andthe clutch element as a whole will rock on the lsaid edge to cause the tooth 23 or 24 to enter a space between the lugs 9.

When the handle is rotated clockwise orto i the-right, as viewed inl Fig. .2, the'tooth 23,

which is disposed above the notch 21, the .clutch element being tilted by the lug or cam 33 in the notch 21, :isengaged byfone of Vthe projecting lugs 9 on the end of the handler and is rotated thereby, which rotationis communicated to the bit'through the notch 21 and cam 33. The lugs19'at this time vclear the Vtooth 24. thelatter being depressed dueto the rocked or tilted position ot the clutch element. y

' When the handle is rotatedcounter-clockwise,the slanting surface 23 of the tooth 23,

engages the lugs 9, allowing the lugs to ride over the teeth and the bit is notrotated.

- With the screw driver adjusted as villustrated in Fig. 2, it is adapted to screw the ordinary right hand thread screw or bolt, and the ratchet is operative when turned 'to the ycontact with the clutch element, and may be rotated to eitherV the right .or lett without affecting the clutch element. t

VWhen the bit is/rotated 1390 vand then released the lug or cam 33 enters the notch 21 disposed opposite the notch 21 and tilts the clutch element in the opposite direction, sc'that the tooth 24, which faces in the oppositev direction to the tooth 23, is engaged by the lugs 9, and the ratchet is thus reversed, the lugs 9 now clearing cr passing over the tooth 23.

When yrotated to the right, the back or slanting surface of the'tooth 24 engages the lugs 9 and theyvslip over it; when rotated to the lett the face ot the tooth 24 engages the lugs and movement is transmittedthrough the notch 21 to the cam or lug 33, and thence to the bit.k A. .Y

,Having thus described my invention in a preferred embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be `made trom the embodiment herein illustrated and described, but* withoutk departing from the spirit otmy invention;

I claim: i

1. Ina ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a vshank supported in and longitudinally movable inthe handl`e,.a. lug on thehandle, a ratchet clutch movable'on the shank, a yirst and a second Aratchet tooth Y on the clutch each provided with a driving tace and a cam'` face, the faces being so posi-4 tionable that when the handle is turned in l one direc-tion,the lug on Vthe handle may clear the tirst tooth andengage the vdriving tace of the second tooth to turn the lclutch in one direction and when the handle is turned in ,the otherl direction the said lug may clear the second tooth and engage the driving tace of the first tooth to "turn the clutch inthe otherdirection, a tongue-and groove connection between the clutch and shank, whereby said driving movement given to the clutch in either direction may be transmitted to thebit to turn itand means for rocking the clutch on the shank in alternate directions to bring alternately the iirst or second tooth of rthe clutch inposition' to be en vfoedby the .said lug.

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2. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a

,bit provided with ya shank supported in and longitudinally movable in the handle, a lug on the. handle, a ratchetclutch movable on the sha-nk, a rst and a secondratchet tooth onl the clutch each provided with a driving face and a cam face, the faces being so positionable that when the handleis turned in one direction, the lug on the handle may clear the first. tooth and engage the driving face of the second tooth to turn the clutch in one Ldirection and when the handle turned in the other direction the said lug may clear the second tooth and engage the driving-face of the first'tooth to turn theclutch inthe Y other direction, a tongue and Vgroove* connection between the clutch and shank, whereby said driving movement given to the clutch lin either direction may be rtransmitted to the bit'to turn it'afnd means for 'rocking the clutch on the shank in alternate directionsV to, bring yalternatelythe first or second'tooth et the clutch in positionto be` engaged bythe said` lug, said rocking means comprising a projection on the clutch andresilient meanstor exerting pressure on the clutch at a point ott-set from said projection. A

3. In aratchet screw driver, a handle, a

bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally movable in the handle, a plu- .rality of lugs on the handle, a ratchet clutch loosely surrounding and longitudinally movable relative to the shank, a lirst and a second ratchet tooth on the clutch each provided with a driving face and a cam face, the faces being so positionable that when the handle is turned in one direction, a lug on the ,handle may clear the irst tooth and engage the driving face of the second tooth to turn the clutch in one direction and when the handle is turned in the other direction a lug on the handle may clear the second tooth and engage the driving face of the iirst tooth to turn the clutch in the other direction, a tongue on the shank, a pair of grooves in the clutch, the tongue being adapted to be engaged alternately with the grooves by manually turning the shank and resilient means for holding the tongue in the said groove, the turning movement of the clutch being adapted to be transmitted to the shank through said tongue and groove to turn the bit, a projection on the clutch adapted to engage a portion of the handle -andthe clutch being adapted to be rocked on said portion in alternate directions by the pressure of the tongue in one of said grooves to bring one of said clutch teeth into position to be engaged by a lug on the handle.

4. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally and rotatably movable in the hanv dle, a lug on the handle, a` tongue on the shank, a clutch element of generally thin cylindrical form axially bored surrounding the shank and movable thereon and positioned between the said lug on the handle and the said tongue on the shank, a pair of grooves in the clutch diametrically arranged on one end of the clutch adapted to be engaged by the said tongue, a pair of ratchet teeth on the other end oi' the clutch and adapted to be en gaged by a lug on the handle, the ratchet teeth being shaped to permitthe lug to ratchet thereover or to drivingly engage the same, a pair of diametrically arranged rocking projections on the said second end of the clutch whereby the clutch may tilt from side to side by engagement of the 'rocking edges with transverse portions of the said handle, and a spring for holding the shank in telescoped relation with the handle whereby the said tongue may be spring pressed into one of said grooves to provide a tongue and groove connection between the clutch and the shank and whereby the clutch may be rocked to bring one of the ratchet teeth in position to be drivingly engaged by a lug on the handle.

5. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally and rotatably movable in the handle, a ratchet mechanism, said mechanism comprising a driven tongue on the shank driving lugs on the handle and an intermediate independently movable clutch provided with tongue engageable grooves and lug engageable opposite ratchet teeth and means whereby the shank may be withdrawn from the handle and rotated and returned to move the clutch to cause it to change the tongue and groove connection to correspondingly change the tooth and lug connection to change the direction of ratcheting and driving connection between the handle and the shank.

6. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally and rotatably movable in the handle, a tongue on the shank for rotatively propelling it, a lug on the handle for rotate ably driving the shank and an intermediate independently movable clutch device between the lug and the tongue, the clutch being provided with opposite ratchet teeth and with a groove, the shank being adapted to be withdrawn a predetermined distance out of the handle and rotated independently of the clutch and means for retracting the shank to engage the tongue and the groove and to engage a ratchet tooth and the lug.

7. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally and rotatably movable in the handle, a driving lug connected with the handle, a driven tongue connected with the shank for turning it and an intermediate independently movable clutch between the shank and the handle provided with oppositely disposed ratcheting teeth and the shank being adapted to be partially withdrawn from the handle and rotated and return into the handle and means whereby said movement of the handle selectively engages a ratchet tooth with the lug.

8. In a ratchet screw driver, a handle, a bit provided with a shank supported in and longitudinally and rotatably movable in the handle, a double ratchet mechanism through which the handle is adapted to rotatably drive the shank selectively in alternate directions and ratchet in the return directions, the mechanism including a. movable element adapted when moved to selectively shift the ratchet mechanism, means whereby the shank may be partially withdrawn from the handle and rotated through a part of the revolution and returned into the handle to move the movable element to shift the ratchet mecha nism selectively.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 4 day of September, 1929.

WILLIAM C. ROE.

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